to be cross with people reserving tables in a self service cafe (especially when there are signs saying don't do it) before they have paid?

[MrsSeanBean]

I find this very annoying. There I am queuing up and waiting to order and pay, and a good 50% of the tables are filled with people 'reserving' seats for their friend/ relation who is clearly behind me in the queue. When I have paid and am staggering around with a fully laden tray and my shopping bags, I have nowhere to sit. In the past, I have sometimes asked if I could sit at a vacant seat on a table of 4 but the lone person sat there waiting for his/her companions has refused. I think this is downright rude and unfair. I would even be prepared to 'move on' when the companions finally arrived ??? mins later - by which time I may have finshed anyway. It's not as if anyone owns the table and I feel I have priority if I have paid and have a tray and need to sit and eat.

AIBU?

If not, has anyone come across a solution (apart from the obvious one of bumping back the wrong way past the queue to the till and complaining to the already harassed and busy staff)?

Maybe I should be like my Grandparents and take a flask and sandwiches with me in my 'Carlton' shopper and eat in them in a lay-by on the way there!

I agree MerryMadMarg - which is exactly why I usually grab a table first. Like I said, you could spend ages walking round in circles otherwise. I've never seen any signs up either - but then I haven't looked. Nobody has ever asked me to move though.

If you can see a free member of staff waiting to serve then of course you should move on - I was talking about when the que in front of you never gets any shorter because people ordering coffee keep que jumping. The cafe's should be better set up really

So is the concensus then ~ 'If you can't beat them (the table baggers), join them?'

I agree that M&S cafe is the worst place in the world for this. Grrr. Trouble is, I am now of the opinion that if you can't beat them, join them. Tho I'd be more than happy to share my table with anyone til the other half arrived with the drinks etc.

... unless you made too much noise slurping your tea and munching your crisps with your mouth full. Then I'd have to ask you to leave....

'mouth full'? that should read 'mouth open' of course....

Am going for a coffee tomorrow in M&S - I am hyperventilating just thinking about getting a table

Shall I come with you bella, you can save me a seat

Oh yes please MrsS!